Fourth grade teacher at Trombly Elementary School using netbooks, wifi hotspot and variety of programs to teach her lessons

BACK TO NORMAL TEMPERATURES, IT SHOULD BE MUCH WARMER RIGHT NOW. Ruth: THANKS, CHUCK. EDUCATION NATION IS COMING TO DETROIT. AND LOCAL 4 IS TEAMING UP WITH NBC NEWS TO SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. Devin: TODAY, LOCAL 4 STARTED THE EDUCATION NATION TOUR BOSS TO GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF BOOKS WERE DROPPED OFF BY STUDENTS. THE GOAL TO STUFF THE BUS WITH NEW OR JUST GENTLY USED BOOKS THAT WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE UNITED WAY NEXT WEEK. Ruth: AND LOOKING LIVE AT THE EDUCATION NATION BUS, IT'S PARKED TONIGHT BUT WILL BE OUT TOMORROW IN WARREN. AND OUR RHONDA WALKER CAUGHT UP WITH ONE TEACHER WHO WAS GETTING CREATIVE WITH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM. Rhonda: OUR TOUR TOOK US ALL OVER GROSSE POINTE SCHOOLS FROM HERE AT GROSSE POINTE NORTH TO GROSSE POINTE PARK'S TROMBLEY ELEMENTARY A FOURTH GREAT TEACHER IS PREPARING HER STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE. THEY'RE HOLDING A DEBRIEFING FOR A MYSTERY SKYPE WITH ANOTHER FOURTH GRADE CLASS IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA. BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT. THE STUDENTS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE OTHER CLASS IS SKYPING FROM. I LIKE THAT, WHEN WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE, SO WE COULD SHOW OFF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SKILLS. IT'S COOL THAT THEY'RE IN ANOTHER STATE AND WE'RE SKYPING TH THEM. FLORIDA! [CHEERING] TRY TO APPROACH IT MORE AS THE GUIDE ON THE SIDE, FACILITATING AND LETTING THEM WORK TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. Rhonda: THEY'RE NOT JUST LEARNING TO USE TECHNOLOGY BUT HOW TO SELF-MANAGE AND WORK TOGETHER. THAT'S HOW LIFE IS. SMART PEOPLE KNOW WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP AND ASK EACH OTHER FOR HELP. Rhonda: SHE USED GRANT MONEY TO GET HER CLASS NET BOOKS. IT'S A PILOT PROJECT FOR HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY AS ANOTHER WAY TO COMMUNICATE AND LEARN. TECHNOLOGY IN OUR WORLD IN GENERAL ARE CHANGING SO FAST NOW, AND WE PUT -- IT PUTS PRESSURE ON US AND WE HAVE TO BE RELEVANT AND GET THE KIDS READY FOR WHAT IS WAITING WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH US. I FIND MYSELF GOING TO WORKSHOPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO KEEP ON GROWING, OTHERWISE YOU DON'T KEEP LEADING IF YOU STAY STAGNANT. Rhonda: DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO HIM NIMBLE SAID TO THE PORCUPINE. Rhonda: BUT THEY STILL ENJOY GOOD OL' FASHIONED STORY TIME. RHONDA WALKER, LOCAL 4. Devin: REMEMBER THE TOUCH SCREENS WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL? YOU PUT YOUR THUMBPRINT IN CHALK ON THE BOARD! I'LL BE EMCEED THE EDUCATION NATION DROIT DETROIT AT THE CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM MUSEUM AT 9 A.M. AND I'LL BE THERE ALONG WITH RHONDA WALKER. AND CHELSEA CLINTON WILL BE THERE. IT'S AN EDUCATION NATION SPECIAL WE'RE CALLING JOB 1. Ruth: AND THEN A STUDENT TOWN HALL WITH HUNDREDS OF DETROIT-AREA STUDENTS AND WATCH THAT ON LOCAL 4 AT NOON ON SUNDAY.

GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. -

When Susan Howey teaches her fourth grade class, she is always looking for ways to incorporate technology.

"Technology and our world in general, I think, are just changing so fast now and we, it puts some pressure on us. We have to keep pace with that and be relevant and really get the kids ready and what is waiting for them when they're done with me, with us," said Howey.

Her class of 25 students recently did a Mystery Skype in which they Skype with another fourth grade class and have to ask questions to determine where that class is in the country.

"I like that we didn't know where we were so we show off our social study skills," said Madison Payne, who is in Howey's class.

Jack Corrion another 4th grade classmate, said how Ms. Howey uses technology and computers is a lot of fun.

"Its kind of cool to be like they're in another state and we're skyping them," said Corrion.

Howey said when she teaches she wants her students to use other resources in addition to her as the teacher. She wants her students to see themselves as teachers.

"I try to approach it more as the guide on the side, you know, facilitating and standing off and letting them get together and collaborate and learn from each other and I find that to be so much more beneficial than if they just see me as their sole source of information," said Howey.

With the Mystery Skype, students are not just learning to use technology but how to self manage and work together.

"I think that's how life is, you know, smart people know when to ask for help and they go to each other, they don't just come to me," said Howey.

Howey used grant money from the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education to get net books for her class and make it a wireless hot spot. It's being used as a pilot project to determine how to use technology in the classroom.

Howey uses a variety of different programs in her class including one that provides a virtual post it note system to communicate with her students.

With 20 years of experience, Howey said she is always looking for ways to improve her skills.

"I find myself going to workshops, and professional development, try to keep on growing otherwise you don't keep leading if you just stay stagnant," said Howey.

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